Most people today would not be able to live a single day at home if their water heater is broken. You can’t simply enjoy a long shower if the water is too cold, especially during the winter or freezing months.
In general, most water heaters have a life expectancy of 8 to 12 years. This duration can become shorter or longer depending on its frequency of use and number of regular users.
A lot of property owners simply enjoy the benefits of using a water heater for a long time that most of the time, they do not notice or know that this type of equipment needs to be repaired or replaced. What are the key signs you have to be on the lookout for which indicate that you need to have your water heater repaired or replaced immediately? Read these signs below:
You hear an annoying noise whenever you turn on your heater and it never seems to stop. A water heater that cracks, pops, bangs, or whines whenever it is turned on can be annoying; it can even be frightening when this sound never seems to stop. If you always hear these kinds of noises, it’s likely that your heater is about to give out. In most instances, constant noise can be a sign of mineral buildup or an imminent failure of the heating element. If you encounter this issue consistently, it’s time to consider having the heater repaired or even replaced.
The water coming out of the shower is always cold. Cold water from the shower is always a sign that your water heater isn’t working properly. Usually, before things get to this point, you may start noticing that the water coming from the shower isn’t as hot as it used to be or the heat doesn’t last as long as it should. Your equipment may already be malfunctioning if there is a consistent drop in the water temperature.
Dirty water coming from the shower. Brown or rusty water that comes from the shower that may have a strange metallic taste is a likely antecedent to water heater failure. Dirty water found inside the tank is a bad sign as well. To determine if buildup is a problem, be on the lookout for an increase in sediment or sludge in the tank and tubes or hose.
The presence of water on the floor around the tank. Finally, there should never be water pooling around the heating unit. If you see puddles on the floor around the tank, this indicates corrosion inside the water tank or some other form of failure. If you notice this, the safest course of action to take is to immediately call a plumber.